The trunk of an elephant has over 40,000 muscles. In comparison, the human body has only 639 muscles in total! ¹⁾

The African elephant is not only the largest living land animal but also has a huge brain. Their brain can weigh up to 5.4 kg and is undoubtedly the largest brain of all land mammals. ²⁾

Elephants rarely get cancer because they have 40 copies of the genes that encode the cancer suppressant protein p53. Humans only have two. ³⁾

Elephants have two types of gait: a walk and a faster walk similar to running. They cannot jump or gallop but can swim. ⁴⁾

An elephant's skin may be up to 2.5cm thick, but it is so sensitive that the elephant can feel a fly walking on it. ⁵⁾

In ancient times, elephants were used as war animals. ⁶⁾

Elephants are herd animals and live in family groups. The herd is headed by a female. ⁷⁾

Elephants devour a variety of grasses, leaves, branches, boughs, and fruits. ⁸⁾

Elephants eat about 250 – 300 pounds of food and drink about 50 gallons of water per day. ⁹⁾

Elephants grow new teeth six times during their lifetime. ¹⁰⁾

The tusks are extended incisors and grow throughout the elephants' lives. ¹¹⁾

African elephants are larger than Asian elephants. ¹²⁾

The African elephants' ears are used for thermoregulation. The Asian elephant protects itself from the sun in shady forests. ¹³⁾

Elephants run faster than humans. ¹⁴⁾

Elephants can hear from up to many miles away. ¹⁵⁾

African elephants have the best sense of smell in the animal kingdom. ¹⁶⁾

Elephants live an average of about 65-70 years. ¹⁷⁾

About 30,000 elephants are killed by poachers every year. ¹⁸⁾